Washing apparatus and method with spiral air flow for drying

Abstract

An apparatus and method for washing and drying objects includes a rotating washing fluid sprayer having several nozzles to direct washing fluid, e.g., water, at an object being washed in a chamber. A drying fluid is directed at the object in the chamber to dry the object. The drying fluid, e.g., air, is directed in a spiral pattern against the object to urge washing liquid away from the object to dry the object and to push the drying liquid away from edges of the object. The air may be directed at the object simultaneously with the water to increase the energy with which the water impinges on the object and to urge dirt from the object being washed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A washing and drying apparatus, comprising a housing, a chamber in the housing, a washing fluid dispenser configured to direct a spray of washing fluid to an object in the chamber to wash the object, and a drying fluid dispenser configured to direct a flow of drying fluid at an object in the chamber to dry the object, wherein the drying fluid dispenser includes an outlet that undergoes spiral motion to direct the flow of drying fluid toward the object while moving the flow of drying fluid in a spiral pattern to push washing fluid off the object as the drying fluid is directed from the drying fluid dispenser toward the object to impinge on the object in a spiral pattern such that the pattern with which the flow impinges against a surface of the object is spiral; wherein the chamber is configured to receive a dish for washing and drying of the dish in the chamber, and wherein the outlet of the drying fluid dispenser is configured to direct flow of drying fluid to impinge on a surface of the dish to push moisture on the dish toward a perimeter of the dish. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a source of air providing an air flow as drying fluid to the drying fluid dispenser. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a holder configured to hold a dish or other eating utensil as the object to be washed in the chamber. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising openings for placing one or more hands of a person into the chamber for washing and drying of the hands. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a source of washing fluid for delivery to the washing fluid dispenser to wash an object in the chamber. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a drain configured to drain liquid from the chamber and a monitor configured to examine liquid draining from the chamber to provide information indicative of the extent of cleanliness of an object being washed. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lift mechanism to receive an object in the chamber to lower the object into the chamber for washing and drying of the object and for lifting the object for convenient removal of the object. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispenser of detergent and/or sanitizer into the chamber. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a source of ultraviolet light providing ultraviolet light in the chamber; the chamber having at least part that is transmissive of light to permit viewing inside the chamber while an object is being washed and/or dried; and wherein that part of the chamber that is transmissive of light blocks transmission of ultraviolet light. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising controls configured to control the flow of washing fluid and drying fluid to wash and dry an object in the chamber. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the washing fluid dispenser and drying fluid dispenser are configured to wash an object in the chamber while simultaneously directing both washing fluid and drying fluid to the object during washing thereof. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a source of infra-red energy configured to provide infra-red energy in the chamber. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drying fluid dispenser is configured to direct a flow of drying fluid in a spiral pattern as the drying fluid is directed toward the object such that the radii of the spiral pattern varies based on the spiraling pattern motion. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drying fluid dispenser includes an outlet that is movable to direct the flow of drying fluid toward the object while moving the flow of drying fluid in a spiral pattern as the drying fluid is directed from the drying fluid dispenser toward the object to impinge on the object in a spiral pattern. 
     
     
       15. A washing and drying apparatus, comprising a housing, a chamber in the housing, a washing fluid dispenser configured to direct a spray of washing fluid to an object in the chamber to wash the object, and a drying fluid dispenser configured to direct a flow of drying fluid at an object in the chamber to dry the object, wherein the drying fluid dispenser is configured to direct the flow of drying fluid that moves in a spiral pattern to impinge on the object in a spiral pattern as the drying fluid is directed toward the object such that the pattern with which the flow impinges against a surface of the object is spiral, and wherein the drying fluid dispenser comprises a pair of relatively rotatable discs, one having at least one elongate slot therethrough and the other having at least one curved slot therethrough, wherein the pair of rotatable discs are aligned in sequential flow relation to each other such that drying fluid provided to the apparatus first flows through one of the slots and subsequently flows through the other of the slots, and wherein in response to the discs rotating at different speeds of rotation the slots are configured to direct the flow of drying fluid in the chamber toward an object to be dried in a spiral pattern against a surface of such object. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein one disc includes a support for at least one nozzle to spray washing fluid toward an object in the chamber, an annular recess about the disc to receive washing fluid therein from a source, and a flow path from the annular recess to the at least one nozzle. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a source of washing fluid coupled in generally fluidically sealed relation with the annular recess, whereby, while the one disc rotates, washing fluid is supplied to the annular recess for coupling via the flow path to the at least one nozzle. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a motor configured to rotate the discs at different respective speeds of rotation. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the at least one elongate slot through one disc is generally straight and at least one of the at least one curved slot through the other disc is generally of spiral shape. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the source of air flow is a blower. 
     
     
       21. A washing and drying apparatus, comprising a housing, a chamber in the housing, a washing fluid dispenser configured to direct a spray of washing fluid to an object in the chamber to wash the object, and a drying fluid dispenser configured to direct a flow of drying fluid at an object in the chamber to dry the object, wherein the drying fluid dispenser includes an outlet that undergoes spiral motion to direct the flow of drying fluid in a spiral pattern toward the object while moving the flow of drying fluid in a curve shape as the drying fluid is directed from the drying fluid dispenser toward the object to impinge on the object in a curve shape that winds around a center at an increasing or decreasing distance from the center as the drying fluid is directed toward the object to push washing fluid from the object; wherein the chamber is configured to receive a dish and/or eating utensil for washing and drying of the dish and/or eating utensil in the chamber, and wherein the outlet of the drying fluid dispenser is configured to direct flow of drying fluid to impinge on a surface of the dish and/or eating utensil to push moisture on the dish and/or eating utensil toward a perimeter of the dish and/or eating utensil. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the center is substantially fixed center point about which the curve shape winds. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the drying fluid dispenser is configured to direct a flow of drying fluid in a spiral pattern as the drying fluid is directed toward the object such that the radii of the spiral pattern varies based on the spiraling pattern motion. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the drying fluid dispenser includes an outlet that is movable to direct the flow of drying fluid toward the object while moving the flow of drying fluid in a curve shape as the drying fluid is directed from the drying fluid dispenser toward the object to impinge on the object in a curve shape that winds around a center at an increasing or decreasing distance from the center as the drying fluid is directed toward the object. 
     
     
       25. A washing and drying apparatus, comprising a housing, a chamber in the housing, a washing fluid dispenser configured to direct a spray of washing fluid to an object in the chamber to wash the object, and a drying fluid dispenser configured to direct a flow of drying fluid at an object in the chamber to dry the object, wherein the drying fluid dispenser includes an outlet that undergoes spiral motion to direct in a spiral pattern the flow of drying fluid as the flow flows from the fluid dispenser toward the object whereby the flow impinges against the object as the flow is moved in a spiral pattern to push washing fluid from the object; wherein the chamber is configured to receive a dish for washing and drying of the dish in the chamber, and wherein the outlet of the drying fluid dispenser is configured to direct flow of drying fluid to impinge on a surface of the dish to push moisture on the dish toward a perimeter of the dish. 
     
     
       26. A washing and drying apparatus, comprising a housing, a chamber in the housing, a washing fluid dispenser configured to direct a spray of washing fluid to an object in the chamber to wash the object, and a drying fluid dispenser configured to direct a flow of drying fluid at an object in the chamber to dry the object, wherein the drying fluid dispenser includes an outlet that undergoes spiral motion to direct a flow of drying fluid in a spiral pattern that is created by continuously changing the angle and distance from a central location of drying fluid flow from the drying fluid dispenser toward the object such that the drying fluid flow moves in a curved pattern to impinge on the object in a curved pattern as the drying fluid is directed toward the object such that the pattern with which the flow impinges against a surface of the object is spiral to push washing fluid from the object including from the edge of the object; wherein the chamber is configured to receive a dish for washing and drying of the dish and/or eating utensil in the chamber, and wherein the outlet of the drying fluid dispenser is configured to direct flow of drying fluid to impinge on a surface of the dish to push moisture on the dish toward a perimeter of the dish. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the curved pattern is a spiral pattern. 
     
     
       28. A dishwasher, comprising a housing, a chamber in the housing configured to receive a dish, a washing fluid dispenser configured to direct a spray of washing fluid to the dish in the chamber to wash the dish, and a drying fluid dispenser configured to direct a flow of drying fluid at a dish in the chamber to dry the dish, wherein the drying fluid dispenser includes an outlet that undergoes spiral motion to direct the flow of drying fluid toward the dish to push washing fluid that is on the dish toward the perimeter of the dish while moving the flow of drying fluid in a spiral pattern as the drying fluid is directed from the drying fluid dispenser toward the object to impinge on the dish in a spiral pattern such that the pattern with which the flow impinges against a surface of the dish is spiral. 
     
     
       29. The dishwasher of  claim 28 , wherein the flow of drying fluid blows washing fluid away from an edge of the dish. 
     
     
       30. The dishwasher of  claim 28 , wherein the washing fluid comprises a washing liquid and/or a rinsing liquid.